Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz continued his dominant season by defeating No. 5 Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the Japan Open final on Tuesday, securing his eighth singles title of the year. The victory might also be Alcaraz’s last match for a few weeks, as he later announced that he will skip the Shanghai Masters, which opens on Wednesday.
“I’ve been struggling with some physical issues and, after discussing with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover,” Alcaraz shared in an Instagram post. The Spaniard had injured his ankle in the first round of the tournament but overcame the setback, dropping only one set throughout the Tokyo event.
Alcaraz’s triumph marked his 24th career singles title, sealed with a deft, sliced drop shot winner. This win also served as a reversal of last week’s defeat to Fritz in two sets at the Laver Cup team event.
With this victory, Alcaraz improved his season record to a tour-best 67-7, keeping him firmly on track for the year-end No. 1 ranking.
“It’s been my best season so far without a doubt,” Alcaraz said. “That shows how hard I’ve worked just to be able to experience these moments and accomplish my goals.”
The Japan Open final also marked Alcaraz’s ninth consecutive final appearance since March, following an early exit in the round of 64 at the Miami Masters. Out of those nine finals, he has won seven, including a notable victory over Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon.
“I didn’t start the year that good, struggling emotionally,” Alcaraz admitted. “So how I came back from that, I’m just really proud of myself, and of all the people around me who have helped me to be in this position.”
Fritz faced his own challenges during the match, taking a medical timeout after the first set for treatment on his left thigh, which was strapped during a changeover in the second set.
“Carlos Alcaraz Wins Japan Open, Clinches Eighth Title Of 2025 And Eyes Recovery Ahead Of Shanghai Masters”
